Overcap assemblies



April 2, 1968 MAlNs ETAL 3,375,538

OVERCAP ASSEMBLIES Filed April 12, 1967 32 /2 FIG. 2 F

I lH 1|; I /6 FIG. 3

II /6 INVENTORS Frank MAINS Eric S. HARDMAN TENT AGEN 3,375,538 PatentedApr. 2, 1968 3,375,538 OVERCAP ASSEMBLIES Frank Mains, Don Mills,Ontario, and Eric S. Hardman, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, assignors toDomtar Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a

Canadian company Filed Apr. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 630,313 6 Claims. (Cl.-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates toovercaps and is primarily directed to an overcap for use with containersfor starch. The overcap is provided with an aperture therethrough and inwhich an insert is frictionally and removably retained. The insert hasan impregnated pad secured to one surface thereof and is insertable inone direction through the aperture to position the pad in a protectedposition within the overcap or in the opposite direction through theaperture to position the pad in exposed position for use.

The present invention relates to overcaps, more particularly to overcapscarrying removable inserts having pads secured thereto.

The present invention finds particular use in the packaging of starch orthe like in aerosol containers. As is known, there is a problem ofstarch sticking to the sole plate of irons and thereby interfering withproper operating of the iron. Prior attempts have been made to preventthe accumulation of starch by the use of lubricants incorporateddirectly in the spray starch formulation or by redesign of the soleplate of the iron. The first of the above methods has met with onlylimited success and the latter method is obviously not suitable sincethe starch supplier has no control over the types of irons used andrequires that his starch product be suitable for use with all irons.

It is thus the main object of the present invention to provide a newpackage for starch overcoming the above problems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new overcapassembly which assembly includes a separable applicator that isinitially connected to the overcap in a protected position but may beremoved from the overcap and reapplied thereto in an exposed or operableposition.

Broadly, the present invention comprises an overcap assembly comprising;an overcap, an aperture through one end of said overcap, a removableinsert frictionally retained within said aperture and a pad secured toone main surface of said insert. When used in an overcap for a starchcontainer this pad will preferably be impregnated with a releasingagent.

Further features, objects and advantages of the present invention willbe evident from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overcap of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section across the centre of the cap showing the insert inone position and FIG. 3 is a section across the centre of the cap withthe insert in a second position.

The cap 10 is composed of two main parts, the body section 12 and theinsert 14. In the illustrated embodiment the body section 12 is providedwith a flange 16 having an internal peripheral ridge 18 which is adaptedto cooperate with the can to hold the cap in position. Any suitabledesign of the body portion 12 may be used.

The top 20 of the cap 10 has an aperture 22 to receive the insert 14.

The insert 14 is composed of a molded section 24 and a pad 26. Thesection 24 has a radial peripheral groove 28 extending about the crownsection 24 and bordered on oneside by a peripheral flange 30 forming theperiphery of the crown section and, on the other side, by a secondflange 32. The peripheral flange 30 prevents the insert 14 from beingpressed through the aperture 22. The bottom of the groove 28 and thesecond flange 32 combine to form an annular ring 34 which in turndefines an annular cavity 36 extending axially of the section 24 andopening from one end of same. The pad 26 is secured within the annularcavity 36.

The insert 14 is removably retained within the aperture 22 in the cap 10by co-operation of the rim of the aperture 22 and the peripheral groove28 on the insert. The insert is held in position with the rim of theaperture 22 on the cap received within the groove 28 and snugly engagedby the flanges 30 and 32 on the insert.

The preferred caps (for use as overcaps for cans of spray starch or thelike) include special pads 26 which are impregnated with a suitablereleasing agent such as silicone or the like. The housewife applies thisrelease agent to the sole plate of the iron in a manner to be describedhereinb'elow. When the overcap is used with containers for materialsother than starches or the like the pad may be impregnated with otherimpregnants or may be unimpregnated or may even take the form of anabrasive material.

The insert 14 preferably is formed from polystyrene, while the body ofthe cap is preferably made of polyethylene. By marrying the polyethylenecap with the polystyrene plug or insert applicant has simplified themanufacturing of these cap assemblies. The polyethylene cap isrelatively easily deformed to provide snap-on connections between theovercap and the container and between the overcap and the insert 14,while the polystyrene insert provides a rigid backing for the pad 26 andeven more important, provides a surface to which the pad may readily beattached by gluing or other similar means. It is very diflicult toadhere the pad to polyethylene.

A container is sold with an overcap thereon and with the insert 14 inthe position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the crown of the moldedsection of the insert is visible and may be provided with any suitablemarking or ornamentationand the pad is protected within the cap. When itis desired to use the pad 26 the insert is simply pressed out of theaperture 22 and is reinserted by pressing same from the oppositedirection (ile. the interior of the cap) to force the insert into lockedposition with the pad exposed as shown in FIG. 3. When manipulating thepad the overcap body 12 serves as a handle. By inserting the fingersinto the cap, pressure can be applied to the crown surface of the insertto ensure that it is not forced out of the aperture by pressure appliedduring use.

Thus, .applicant has disclosed a new form of overcap including aremovable insert having a pad means secured thereto. The insert beingadapted to be connected to the cap in two positions-one with the padexposed andthe other with the pad protected.

Modifications may be made in the present invention without departingfrom the spirit of same as defined in the appended claims. For example,the annular ring 34 may be made discontinuous rather than continuous asshown in the illustrated embodiment.

We claim:

1. An overcap assembly comprising: an overcap, an aperture through asubstantially fiat wall of said overcap, a removable insert receivablein said aperturev from opposite sides of said wall, peripheral meansfrictionally re- 3 taining said insert in said aperture and a padsecured to and projecting axially from one end of said insert.

2. An overcap as defined in claim 1 wherein said pad is fitted andretained in a cavity at said one end of said insert."

3. An overcap as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for frictionallyretaining said insert comprises: a peripheral radial groove on saidinsert into which the rim of said aperture is received.

4. An aerosol starch formulation package comprising: a container forsaid formulation, an overcap for said container, an aperture through asubstantially fiat wall of said overcap, a removable insert receivablein said aperture from opposite sides ofsaid wall, peripheral means tofrictionally retain said insert in said aperture, an impregnatedpadsecured to and projecting axially from one end of said insert, said padbeing impregnated with a release agent to prevent sticking of saidstarch to a sole plate of an iron.

5. An overcap as defined in claim 4 wherein said pad 4 t is fitted andretained in a cavity at said one end of said insert.

6. An overcap as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for frictionallyretaining said insert comprises: a peripheral radial groove on saidinsert into which the rim of said aperture is received." 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,496 5/1909 Lyon 1S6102,426,288 8/ 1947 Wagner. 2,575,788 11/1951 Bobrou 15258 XR 3,031,7115/1962 Herman et a1. 15528 FOREIGN PATENTS 673,723 10/ 1929 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. 1. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

